Rec Room: Final Market Day comes just in time for Christmas

As a kid, I could never understand why anyone listened to AM stations on the radio.

These stations seemed boring despite the fact that they could be used in place of a meteorologist. You knew the thunderstorm was getting closer when the time between crackles on the radio got shorter.

Back then, nothing on AM seemed more boring to me than talk radio.

Well here we are some years later, and despite the pleading of my family, my radio station rarely moves from talk radio, and, yes, it is on the AM frequency (not satellite).

While listening to one of my favorite stations the other morning on my way to work, I heard that if you were to purchase all the items from the "12 Days of Christmas" you would be paying 4.4 percent more this year versus last year. This means that if you were to buy all 364 items (repeated in the songs verses) you would spend an estimated $101,119. Who wants to purchase 10 lords a leaping or 11 pipers piping?

My suggestion, make a smart shopping choice by visiting all the wonderful booths at the final Market Days of the year that will be from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Dec. 17, at DeLeon Plaza.

What a great opportunity to get your last-minute shopping done and to purchase items that you will not typically find in most retail stores. Many of the items are handmade and include custom jewelry and woodworking items, along with clothing and home décor, just to name a few.

This is an excellent venue to procure that perfect gift for the person who has everything.

The other great thing about Market Days is the awesome food that is available from the concession vendors who set up on Forrest Street. These treats are delicious and guaranteed to keep your energy level high during your shopping excursion.

So unless you are shopping for a 3-D flat screen television or for some reason you just have to have a partridge in a pear tree, visit the Victoria Parks and Recreation staff and all our vendors at Market Days and find just the right gift that your friends and family are sure to love.

Shane Simon is the recreation services manager for the Victoria Parks and Recreation Department. Contact him at 361-485-3200 or ssimon@victoriatx.org or follow us on Facebook at Victoria Parks Recreation.